Coast Guard Shelves Plans to Shut Down Potomac Near a Trump Resort

Adam Van Grack, a lawyer and the chairman of USA Canoe/Kayak, the national governing body for the Olympic sports, this month on the Potomac River in Poolesville, Md.Credit
Alex Wroblewski for The New York Times

WASHINGTON — It is not often that the interests of a quiet rural community overtake those of the president. But after opposition from veterans, Olympians and children’s summer camps, the Coast Guard is retreating from plans to increase security on the Potomac River behind the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia.

The Coast Guard faced a barrage of opposition, led by some House Democrats, after it unveiled plans last week to periodically close a two-mile stretch of the Potomac River when President Trump or other “high-ranking officials” visit the resort, about an hour’s drive northwest of the White House.

Speaking on Tuesday at a House subcommittee hearing, Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, the commandant of the United States Coast Guard, announced that the security zone would stop short of the Maryland shore across the river from the resort, leaving part of the waters open for the public to pass.

“As long as they stay to the Maryland side of the Potomac River, they can pass clearly when the security zone is in effect,” Admiral Zukunft said.

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It was not clear how soon the public would be allowed to use that part of the river, given Admiral Zukunft’s comments, as the security zone went into immediate effect when it was unveiled last week.